credulous

[ krej-uh-luhs ]
See synonyms for: credulouscredulouslycredulousness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. willing to believe or trust too readily, especially without proper or adequate evidence; gullible.

  2. marked by or arising from credulity: a credulous rumor.

Origin of credulous

1
First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin crēdulus, equivalent to crēdere “to believe” + -ulus adjective suffix denoting a quality or tendency; see -ous

Other words for credulous

Other words from credulous

  • cred·u·lous·ly, adverb
  • cred·u·lous·ness, noun
  • non·cred·u·lous, adjective
  • non·cred·u·lous·ly, adverb
  • non·cred·u·lous·ness, noun
  • o·ver·cred·u·lous, adjective
  • o·ver·cred·u·lous·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·cred·u·lous·ness, noun
  • un·cred·u·lous, adjective
  • un·cred·u·lous·ly, adverb
  • un·cred·u·lous·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with credulous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use credulous in a sentence

  • How the credulousness of mainstream media figures like Bob Woodward and Ron Fournier enables Republican extremism.

  • Even her sweet credulousness had in it an equal capacity for seductive wilfulness and petulance.

    Was It Right to Forgive? | Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr
  • Both are personifications founded in the ignorance of the masses, and their continuance will cease with their credulousness.

    A Few Words About the Devil | Charles Bradlaugh
  • Uninquiring incredulity is as great a proof of weakness as over credulousness.

  • Antonia had the most trusting, responsive eyes in the world; love and credulousness seemed to look out of them with open faces.

    My Antonia | Willa Cather
  • She herself meanwhile will seek to enter the kemenate and play upon her credulousness.

British Dictionary definitions for credulous

credulous

/ (ˈkrɛdjʊləs) /


adjective
  1. tending to believe something on little evidence

  2. arising from or characterized by credulity: credulous beliefs

Origin of credulous

1
C16: from Latin crēdulus, from crēdere to believe

Derived forms of credulous

  • credulously, adverb
  • credulousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012